In the Scarlet Letter the scaffold of the market place, a “penal machine” (pg.38) was originally meant to institute disgrace into criminals and promote good citizenship. “The very ideal of ignominy was embodied and made manifest in this contrivance of wood iron” (pg.39) as the story begins the scaffold symbolizes the shame and disgrace of Hester’s sin. As she refuses to tell who has sinned with her Dimmesdale’s is over come with guilt knowing that he is the other sinner and the father ofPearl. Once Dimmesdale climbs onto the scaffold to exact his own punishment for the disgrace, “the spot where Hester Prynne had lived through her first hour of ignominy. The same platform or scaffold, black and weather-stained with the storm or sunshine seven long years…” (pg. 101) which he has yet to acknowledge publicly, the scaffold changes in meaning into that of a private acceptance of sin. While once he decides to face the public and openly accept his sin “He turned towards the scaffold, and stretched forth his arms,” (pg 172), he changes the meaning of the scaffold once again into that of a public acceptance of disgrace.
2
The symbolism of the scaffold changes through out the Scarlet Letter. When the novel first starts the Scaffold stands for the justice of the main character’s sin. We know this because we read “…this scaffold constituted part of the penal machine…” (Chapter two page 38) Then later in the book we see Hester and Dimmesdale on the scaffold and this represents the acceptance that he is Pearls father with this quote. “…Doubted whether he should be able to descend the steps of the scaffold….”come up here, Hester, thou and little pearl.”(Page 104-5)Then again the meaning of the scaffold shits to penance and relief at the end of the book when Hester Pearl and Dimmesdale all stand on the scaffold together. As seen in this quote “He turned toward the scaffold and stretched forth his hands.” Through those few quotes we can clearly see that the scaffold changes its symbolism through out the length of the novel.
3
In the beginning of The Scarlet Letter the scaffold stands for something different then it does at the end. In the beginning, the scaffold stands for public humiliation and punishment for Hester Prynne. It then changes to a symbol for redemption of sin for Dimmesdale. Hester Prynne starts out the story leaving the prison and going to the scaffold. “Hester passed through the portion of her ordeal, and came to some sort of scaffold” pg. 38. This is where she is scrutinized and punished for her sin. She took her embarrassment and did not respond to the comments being made towards her. “Hester Prynne repaid all with a bitter and disdainful smile” pg. 40. Overall, for Hester the scaffold represented her repercussions for her sin of adultery. For Dimmesdale, it was totally different. This was a spot where he could tell the truth to the people and redeem himself for his sin. He said to the people in the crowd, “behold me the one sinner of the world!... I should have stood; here with this woman..” pg. 174. This means for him, the scaffold was a symbol for his redemption. Right after his redemption Dimmesdale died on the scaffold with Hester and Pearl around him. Throughout the story, Hawthorne used many symbols, one of course being the scaffold. It meant different things for different people. In the beginning of The Scarlet Letter the scaffold stands for something different then it does at the end. For Hester, it’s a place of punishment and humiliation, but for Dimmesdale it’s a place for redemption. There were many other symbols that changed through out The Scarlet Letter.
4
In The Scarlet Letter the scaffold changes throughout the story. In the beginning of the book the scaffold is seen as “an agent in the promotion of good citizenship” (pg 39). Hester is put on the scaffold as a punishment for her sin and now a higher authority is trying to right her wrong and make her a good citizen. In the middle of the story Dimmesdale stands upon the scaffold at night privately at first. “The same platform or scaffold, black and weather-stained with the storm or sunshine seven long years…” (pg 101), he now stands on the same thing that Hester was publicly humiliated on and privately accepts his sin. “He turned towards the scaffold, and stretched forth his arms,” (pg 172), this event at the end of the book shows how Dimmesdale publicly embraces the scaffold and is no longer afraid of hiding it. The scaffold was prevalent during the whole story and changed the characters into what they truly were.
5
The scaffold in Hawthorne’s novel The Scarlet Letter changes throughout the story having one meaning in the beginning, one meaning towards the middle of the novel, and another meaning by the end. In the beginning of the Scarlet Letter the scaffold was a symbol of a way to pay for your sins. The scaffold was used purely for people to admit their wronging and be mad an example of in front of the townspeople. “infact this scaffold constituted a portion of a penal machine… so fashioned as to confine the human head in its tight grasp and thus hold it up to the public gaze.” (pg38-39). In the middle of the novel the scaffold’s symbol begins to change. The scaffold becomes a symbol of a revelation for Dimmesdale and the scaffold allows him to finally punish himself to release some pain even though its not the public. Now the scaffold is a symbol for personal matters not for the town to see. “And thus, while standing on the scaffold, in this vain show of expiation, Mr.Dimmesdale was overcome with great horror of mind, as if the universe were gazing at a scarlet token on his naked breast…”(pg102). At the end of the sotry the scaffold becomes a symbol of freedom. The scaffold allows Dimmesdale to release all of his guilt and confess to his sins allowing Hester’s guilt to leave her as well. The scaffold lets Dimmesdale get away from Chillingworth’s evil grasp. “”Hester’ he said. ‘Come hither! Come my little Pearl’…I should have stood ; here with this woman… seven years ago’”(pg173- 174) The scaffold’s symbol changes multiple ways throughout the story which moves the plot along and the development of the characters.
6
Many symbols throughout “The Scarlet Letter” are present. And many of these symbols change as the story progresses forward, like the scaffolding, originally a location of not only punishment through humiliation, but a place of judgment as well for the main character Hester Prynne. Hester is placed up here for her sin of adultery and fines much shame in appearing not only in front of the people but in front of god bearing the child of sin. The scaffolding is seen as a platform to god that a person would not wish to stand upon. As the story progresses the scaffold sees a much different meaning, Dimmesdale uses the scaffolding as a place of confession to obtain peace of mind. In bright daylight he stands proud upon the scaffold to admit to his sins and obtain the inner peace he so long wished for.
7
In the beginning of the story, the scaffold represents public humiliation and punishment for Hester. Throughout the story, the symbol the scaffold represents changes to redemption for sins. The first symbol represents Hester and the second symbol represents Dimmesdale.
Hester Prynne is being punished for adultery by wearing a scarlet letter “A” on her bosom and standing up on a scaffold in town for the people to see. The scaffold is “the platform of the pillory” and was the “instrument of discipline” (pg.39) This scaffold represents the public humiliation and punishment she must face due to her crime. This is “a penalty which, in our days, would infer a degree of mocking infamy and ridicule” (pg.35)
On “an obscure night of early May” (pg.101), Dimmesdale stood on the scaffold. He wanted private redemption for himself because he had kept his secret of being Hester’s partner in sin. This is shown when Dimmesdale “was overcome with a great horror or mind” and felt “as if the universe were gazing at a scarlet token on his naked breast, right over his heart” (pg.102) Since Dimmesdale had been keeping this secret, he carried so much guilt with him that he needed some type of punishment to redeem himself, hence the scaffold scene.
At the end of the story, Dimmesdale feels that “there was no one place so secret… save on this very scaffold.” (pg.173) The scaffold is the place where Dimmesdale comes clean with his secret to the public. It’s his way of trying to be redeemed for having so much guilty for such a long time.
Throughout the story, the scaffold symbolizes humiliation, punishment, private and public redemption. Hawthorne emphasizes on these symbols by putting great detail into how the person feels while standing upon the scaffold.
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The Scaffold The scaffold is a symbol of confessing the wrongdoing or sin you have done. It’s also a symbol of the platform of God on the Day of Judgment. It is one's weakness standing before the Lord. In the beginning Hester has to face the tough town’s people and God on the Scaffold. Dimmesdale is scarred to stand on the scaffold and admit his sins. As if he were trying to hide from God himself, he confesses to himself in darkness. But at the end he stands bravely on the scaffold and confesses his sin in front of a crowd of people and before god. Instead of living in regret, the confession gives him a sense of peace.
9
Throughout the story, the symbolism of the scaffold drastically changes. In the beginning of "The Scarlet Letter", the scaffold is a symbol of shame. It is meant to bestow disgrace upon Hester Prynne for her sins. As the story progresses, Dimmesdale stands on the scaffold in search of redemption. However, he finds none due to his lack of repentance and actually admitting his sins. At the end of the novel, the scaffold represents resolution. Resolution to the fact that Dimmesdale can now die in peace because he has repented, and resolution for Hester. Hester finds this resolution because she is not the only one having to deal with the shame, her other sinner has been revealed.
10
In the Scarlet Letter, the symbolism of the scaffold changes throughout the story. At the beginning of the story, the scaffold represents a place where a sinner is placed to be publicly humiliated and disgraced. Hester is publicly humiliated on the scaffold at the beginning of the story for being an adulteress, and this fills her with shame and guilt. However, the meaning of the scaffold changes when Dimmesdale goes to it at night, and admits to himself that he is a sinner. So, the scaffold in a way evolves into a place for a sinner to achieve peace of mind. By the end of the story, the scaffold comes to represent a place where a disgraced sinner can gain redemption. Dimmesdale goes to the scaffold in front of the townspeople, and confesses his sin to everyone. This completely removes the guilt and shame which has been plaguing him since he first committed his sin. At the beginning of the story, Hawthorne uses the scaffold to symbolize a dark place of shame and public disgrace. He evolves the scaffold throughout the story to symbolize a place of redemption and peaceful feelings.
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Hester Prynne starts out the story leaving the prison and going to the scaffold. “Hester passed through the portion of her ordeal, and came to some sort of scaffold” pg. 38. This is where she is scrutinized and punished for her sin. She took her embarrassment and did not respond to the comments being made towards her. “Hester Prynne repaid all with a bitter and disdainful smile” pg. 40. Overall, for Hester the scaffold represented her repercussions for her sin of adultery.
For Dimmesdale, it was totally different. This was a spot where he could tell the truth to the people and redeem himself for his sin. He said to the people in the crowd, “behold me the one sinner of the world!... I should have stood; here with this woman..” pg. 174. This means for him, the scaffold was a symbol for his redemption. Right after his redemption Dimmesdale died on the scaffold with Hester and Pearl around him.
Throughout the story, Hawthorne used many symbols, one of course being the scaffold. It meant different things for different people. In the beginning of The Scarlet Letter the scaffold stands for something different then it does at the end. For Hester, it’s a place of punishment and humiliation, but for Dimmesdale it’s a place for redemption. There were many other symbols that changed through out The Scarlet Letter.
Hester Prynne is being punished for adultery by wearing a scarlet letter “A” on her bosom and standing up on a scaffold in town for the people to see. The scaffold is “the platform of the pillory” and was the “instrument of discipline” (pg.39) This scaffold represents the public humiliation and punishment she must face due to her crime. This is “a penalty which, in our days, would infer a degree of mocking infamy and ridicule” (pg.35)
On “an obscure night of early May” (pg.101), Dimmesdale stood on the scaffold. He wanted private redemption for himself because he had kept his secret of being Hester’s partner in sin. This is shown when Dimmesdale “was overcome with a great horror or mind” and felt “as if the universe were gazing at a scarlet token on his naked breast, right over his heart” (pg.102) Since Dimmesdale had been keeping this secret, he carried so much guilt with him that he needed some type of punishment to redeem himself, hence the scaffold scene.
At the end of the story, Dimmesdale feels that “there was no one place so secret… save on this very scaffold.” (pg.173) The scaffold is the place where Dimmesdale comes clean with his secret to the public. It’s his way of trying to be redeemed for having so much guilty for such a long time.
Throughout the story, the scaffold symbolizes humiliation, punishment, private and public redemption. Hawthorne emphasizes on these symbols by putting great detail into how the person feels while standing upon the scaffold.
The scaffold is a symbol of confessing the wrongdoing or sin you have done. It’s also a symbol of the platform of God on the Day of Judgment. It is one's weakness standing before the Lord. In the beginning Hester has to face the tough town’s people and God on the Scaffold. Dimmesdale is scarred to stand on the scaffold and admit his sins. As if he were trying to hide from God himself, he confesses to himself in darkness. But at the end he stands bravely on the scaffold and confesses his sin in front of a crowd of people and before god. Instead of living in regret, the confession gives him a sense of peace.